Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Simple acid bath can turn blood cells into the best kind of stem cell which would remove the ethical issue of embryo sourcing and make stem cells cheap and plentiful

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Scientists in Japan showed stem cells can now be made quickly just by dipping blood cells into acid. Stem cell technology cheaper, faster and safer.



Stem cells can transform into any tissue and are already being trialled for healing the eye, heart and brain.



The study shows that shocking blood cells with acid could also trigger the transformation into stem cells - this time termed STAP (stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency) cells.



Dr Haruko Obokata, from the Riken Centre for Developmental Biology in Japan, said she was "really surprised" that cells could respond to their environment in this way.



She added: "It's exciting to think about the new possibilities these findings offer us, not only in regenerative medicine, but cancer as well."



The breakthrough was achieved in mouse blood cells, but research is now taking place to achieve the same results with human blood.



Chris Mason, professor of regenerative medicine at University College London, said if it also works in humans then "the age of personalised medicine would have finally arrived."



Nature - Stimulus-triggered fate conversion of somatic cells into pluripotency



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Reposted via Next Big Future

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